noun
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heifer
HEH-fuh
Heifer (noun) means a young female cow that has not yet given birth to a calf. Example: “The farmer kept the heifer separate from the milking herd.”
noun
1
A young female cow that has not yet given birth to a calf.
"The farmer kept the heifer separate from the milking herd."
How to use heifer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA young cow before she's had her first calf.
Memory tip
Once she has calved, she's usually just called a "cow," not a heifer anymore.
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Word forms
- Plural
- heifers
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The farmer kept the _____ separate from the milking herd.
Etymology
From Old English hēahfore, a word of disputed origin found only in English, with no clear match in other Germanic languages.
Rhymes for heifer
See all rhymes for heifer →Frequently asked questions
What does “heifer” mean?
The word “heifer” means a young female cow that has not yet given birth to a calf. In plain terms, a young cow before she's had her first calf.
How do you pronounce “heifer”?
“Heifer” is pronounced HEH-fuh (/ˈhɛfə(ɹ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “heifer” in a sentence?
Here is “heifer” used in a sentence: “The farmer kept the heifer separate from the milking herd.”
What part of speech is “heifer”?
“Heifer” is a noun.
Where does the word “heifer” come from?
The word “heifer” comes from Old English. From Old English hēahfore, a word of disputed origin found only in English, with no clear match in other Germanic languages.
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